Teenager shot, killed in Ferguson apartment complex

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FERGUSON, MO (KPLR) - A shooting in Ferguson has tensions riding high between residents and police in north St. Louis County.

Saturday afternoon a police involved shooting occurred at the Canfield Green apartment complex in the 2900 block of Canfield.

Police say an officer from the Ferguson Police Department was involved in shooting at the apartment complex that left a teenager dead.

At the request of the Ferguson Police Department the St. Louis County Crimes Against Person Unit is taking over the investigation of the shooting.

Witnesses to the shooting say the person shot was a 17-year-old teenager who was walking in the middle of a street with a friend.

The police officer involved in the shooting has been put on paid administrative leave.

Following the shooting a large crowd of residents from the apartment complex gathered at the crime scene in the middle of the apartment complex. In response to the crowd Ferguson police request additional help for crowd control from St. Louis County Police.

A spokesperson for St. Louis County Police says a perimeter was set-up around the apartment complex after gun fire was heard in the area.

In response to Saturday’s shooting the St. Louis County NAACP has launched an investigation into the events surrounding the death of a man in a police involved shooting in Ferguson. The NAACP has also asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to intervene in the investigation.

Late Saturday night St. Louis County Police issued a press release stating that a press conference will be held Sunday at 10 am at Ferguson Police Department.

The president of the St. Louis County NAACP Missouri State Representative Ester Haywood released the following statement:

“We are hurt to hear that yet another teenaged boy has been slaughtered by law enforcement especially in light of the recent death of Eric Garner in New York who was killed for selling cigarettes. We plan to do everything within our power to ensure that the Ferguson Police Department as well as the St. Louis County Police Department releases all details pertinent to the shooting. We strongly encourage residents to stay away from the crime scene so that no additional citizens are injured. I have spoken directly with St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, and I am confident that both he and his department will ensure that the investigation is conducted properly and that all details are kept transparent.”

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11 comments

Sara W

so this person is being put on paid leave, basically a vacation, for shooting a kid? doesn’t hat stand as an incentive for other officers to kill young black teens, since this seems to be the only repercussion

Thats standard practice on pretty much any job when is accused of something, the investigation will determine the outcome of it being justified. i seriously doubt any officer would want to go through the hate that this officer will face even if it was justified. hate to see anyone die though…very sad situation.

Rose

Really… racism or not what Happened to this young man is wrong. Not only was he walking with someone who witnessed what happened a group of people also witnessed it. After being shot he put his hands up and tried to surrender. He was shot a total of 10 times most of which were after he tried to surrender. Who cares about his skin color this needs to stop.

Chuck

The only reason it happened was because of skin color…black men are being racially profiled..how many white men or boys have been shot just because they were walking down the street? How many white men have been killed based of someone being scared of them based of the type of music they listen to? How many white men/boys have been walking in their own neighborhood in a hoodie at night and were gunned down by the neighborhood watch because the neighborhood watchmen was scared from their own pre-conceived notions? How many white men/boys have been shot when they needed help after a car accident in the middle of the night and went to the nearest home to ask for help? How many white men/boys have been shot by cops in the middle of a walmart store toy isle for looking/sampling an airsoft gun? How many white men/boys that stand on street corners minding their business were murdered by cops? How many white men/boys are murdered at subway stations as cops just decided to question them and when the cops were asked why all of a sudden that’s a crime and the young man was shot..excuse was…I thought it was my taser….I’m sorry you thought? You are a trained gunman. You know the shape n feel if your weapon and mr. Officer you thought? There are plenty of these types of stories in the black neighborhood..but how many in the white neighborhoods? The numbers don’t lie…and that’s how one can come to the conclusion that our black men/boys are being targeted based off the color of their skin.. Now isn’t that the core meaning of racisism?

Think alot

I’ve had guns drawn on me by police because they fear the unknown – big black boogie man with super powers. Then they run my name see I have no record or thug superpowers. But it’s never about race? ??

PJ London

“and I am confident that both he and his department will ensure that the investigation is conducted properly and that all details are kept transparent.” and the officer will be exonerated and given a medal.

Fact Checker

By reading several reports, it seems that a short fused police officer lost his temper after th eteens didn’t want to walk on the sidewalk as instructed. The Police Officer murdered the young man and will most likley claim he thouught he saw a weapon. This was in daylight with many witnesses. Hopefully the video camera in the car has been colected for evidence. I belive that this Officer will be fired and charged with murder.

cassie

@Bruce Tucker, not all black people dismiss the facts, I would say generalized statements like those that you have expressed shows your ignorance. I believe that no matter skin color, an unarmed person doesn’t have to die a senseless death. Hope your family never experience such tragedy of this kind because it would be interesting to see what you say or do

They have video in the the cars. If what the witnesses say is true he should be tried for murder. Even IF they pushed him in the car and there was a struggle for the gun. Shooting multiple times??? What if he hit someone just standing on the sidewalk or if the stray bullet went through a window. Whether it was racially motivated or not, it was inappropriate use of force. How do you shoot a boy multiple times in self defense unless he is running at you with a weapon/